" I think what oldtimer was saying is that the armed forces are volunteers, Therefore they requested the job. Again, if you apply for a job, do your best. The risk and rewards determine whether you want the job. And as far as the comments about my kids and the military, they chose different occupations. "

" Check out
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/jan-june07/warcost_05-23.html
Then decide who's paying for this war, thats based on lies.There's also a little news item there about the great medical disability help our troops receive. "

" As a current Active Duty member in the Armed Forces I would say that although I don't ENTIRELY disagree with what was said on here, there are some differences. Depending on WHERE you are stationed you cannot just 'walk in with a sick child and be seen'. Nope, not here! We have what is called a 'SuperClinic' and you actually have to MAKE AN APPOINTMENT when your child is sick. And if they can't get you in the same day, you must get authorization to be seen at the local Emergency Room. It is true, we DO NOT get paid alot of money, but we knew that coming in. I did my time in Afghanistan and yes, we get Hazard pay, but what will you do with that money when your dead from a roadside bomb? Hardly worth it actually. There are pros and cons as with any job so everyone on here was right AND wrong about their comments. "

" AJ--do you think that there is a chance that some of the higher-ups in Bear Stearns are Democrats? "

" cm-as a recent retiree with 30years and who still uses military I can indeed guarantee you the days you'e talking about are not the same as today. As far as hostile fire, military seperation and hazardous duty pay, the amount is relevant to where you are deployed, to include what is considered war zone by those unfamiliar with military definitions, protocol, etc. There is no such thing as free housing, what you mean is the BHA they would receive living off base is kept from their pay, the amount depends on rank. The days of bases having housing is quickly diminishing and most are/will become privitized.

oldtimer-the draft is long gone, if it weren't for volunteers there would be no military therefore your comments make no sense.

Farmer Gal- unfortunately there are hospital horror stories in all sectors. Check with people who've had to count on Workmans Comp, now that's scary! "

" I have to be very general because of client/lawyer privilege and all that, but while I was working in bankruptcy, I also did some social security and related work. I heard some really sad and awful stories about VA hospitals all around this region. I suspect most of it has to do with underfunding, but nonetheless, the experiences of folks with whom I spoke with the VA were not positive experiences, every step a battle, a fudge-up, a mess to be sorted at every level.

That doesn't mean there aren't dedicated, talented people working there, at least some of them, but more that the system in which they work is so dysfunctional that it makes treatment by the VA a misery.

I know -- that's just hearsay, but it's the way I heard it many a time. "

" If the Democrats bring the troops home and end the war, they can charge us less in taxes and still have a surplus just from the savings from not wasting billions a year on an unwinnable war.

The fact that other countries' economies have also suffered from the war doesn't change the fact that our economy suffers from the war; hence that's irrelevant as a rebuttal. It's a true fact too, but changes nothing.

BTW, cm, AJ and Andy B -- I posted a couple quick references about phosphorus pollution on the OWL article page the other day, just before they removed it from the Letters page -- you can still get there from here by searching on OWL Owasco. "

" Gator,
In my days in the USMC there was a
draft or enlistment.If you enlisted
you had NO right to complain,if drafted
you Did "

" Do you really think we are the only country with a suffering economy all because of a war?
please---
If/when the DEM's have the white house-taxes will go sky high and you will whine! they are already showing this in congress where they have the majority!

there will always be inflation, count on it every year, and it will be higher than the average wages.
there will always be terrorists, count on that never going away.
there will always be TURF wars, low teacher pay and high school wants/needs.

put your Harlequin away & wake up to the real world!!!!

"

" Gator I never said I was HILL-fan!
But I am for sure NOT an Obama fan!
If the truth be known-HILL ran the white house and Bill just smiled for the media!

Being an ex-military family-you are way off base concerning the benefits!
Maybe the VA has lots of troubles since there are so many elderly now that served back then.
But if I had a sick child-I would walk right in to medical and be seen! Yes like normal doctors sometimes there is a wait. In 10yrs I only had trouble with 1 military hospital --due to staffing shortages.
People going thru artificial insemination and pay thousands --pay 10.00 co-pays per visit and 250.00 per insemination compared to 10-grand outside!!!
If military pay is low-then they have the free housing-stationed in CA.where ent is 1500+ is a huge savings. Those serving have free entry to meals served all day long!
Those deployed recive HAZARD pay-which is double if not more than their NORM.
Life insurance is about 5.00 per month per 100grand.
College education in this day can be used ONLINE classes. It will be better when the law passes and if you dont use it--a family member can! It adds up to be service member pays 6000.00 for 2 yrs and a full 4yr college is paid!
that is a huge savings!
Then their the other benny's that individual units/bases offer on-top.

Yes-you are putting your life on the life-just as a policeman/firefighter/armed guard/FBI/and sadly in these days just an average gas station worker due to robberies!!!!!!!

the 2-center above is worried about their nephew yet states it correctly
"he JOINED"
a given choice to choose your profession!!!!!!! "

" I hope you don't mind reposting this, but I think it deserves a little more time.

AJ wrote on Mar 19, 2008 2:40 PM:
" Please pardon me. The current bailout is for 230 billion, not 200 as I noted earlier.

This capitalism stuff is great isn't it?
The top executives at Bear Stearns get to keep their billion dollar bonuses since they now don't have to declare bankruptcy.

Nothing like privatizing profits and socialising the losses. (that means WE pay for it when they screw up, but don't get anything when they make a killing, for those who can't figure it out)

I am so sick of the greedy scumbag "free market" (what a cruel joke, eh?) republicans who think of noone but themselves, and their sycophants who are delusional, it makes me want to scream. " "

" Actually I haven't seen any other fellow active duty military on here complaining at all about how we have it. Wonder why? "

" That is a hoot isn't it? It's hard to say what tops them all here - it might be a contender.

Posts like that make you wonder if we're living in some parallel universe, don't they? "

" Old Timer - It's Armed Forces. And the days of collecting once a month has been long gone, unless of course they are retired. And as for whining I'm sure that you are aware that if a member of the Armed Force is married with 2 children and holds the rank of SSgt and below they actually qualify for food stamps. Yep they really have it made. Mow do they get assistance with college, yep sure do but do you have idea how difficult it is to attend college when you're deployed? Noww do they get medical, sure do, actually it's quite the same as socialized medicine which means by the time you see the doctor you're probably over whatever it is you had. But still if you have something serious you will have access to some of the best medical facilitis in the US so it does even out. Maybe you should read up on Walter Reed and tell me how great these guys have it. Please don't comment on something you know nothing about. "

" they sign up the
armforce's, take the check
every month,then complain about being
call on to do their duty.What gives!!! "

" CM - just to clarify the church Obama belongs to is actually predominantly white! Also you say he has no experience, are you saying Hilary does? Other than living in the white house exactly what experience does she have? And how about the items she and Bill removed from the white house that did not belong to them, have we forgotten that also (NY Times Feb 01; a fact they did not deny. "

" Believe me, NO ONE would want to hear me attempt to sing, but I will join the chorus all the same.

Are we giving out awards to the stupidest, most illogical Two Cents posts of the year? Bush and his oil co buddies are chortling themselves all the way to the bank. "

" If the Democrats are "keeping the oil high" to win the election in November, then I will gladly pay 4>50 a gallon to help see that happen!
GO BARACK "HUSSEIN" OBAMA!!!!!! YAAYYYYY!!!

Furthermore, if Judy's a "Liberal" now, then I'm now a "Conservative" LOL! Try not to fall off your couch! LOL!!!!!! "

" Karl, I'll scream with ya, but it won't likely be very harmonious! My voice is pretty pathetic! lol..

"